Open AccessMicromapping of Mg/Ca values in cultured specimens of the high‐magnesium benthic foraminifera
Author(s) -
Toyofuku Takashi,
Kitazato Hiroshi
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.928
H-Index - 136
ISSN - 1525-2027
DOI - 10.1029/2005gc000961
Subject(s) - foraminifera , electron microprobe , magnesium , calcite , benthic zone , geology , mineralogy , oceanography , materials science , metallurgy
This study measured Mg/Ca values in cross sections of the benthic foraminifer Planoglabratella opercularis (d'Orbigny) using an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) (spot size, 2 μm; >1000 analyses). We cultured clonal juveniles of this species under controlled temperatures. This species precipitates high‐magnesium calcite as its test material. Mean Mg/Ca values increased linearly with the culture temperature; therefore Mg/Ca values in walls of subsequently formed chambers reflected changes in temperature during the experiment. Foraminiferal specimens yielded variable Mg/Ca values within their test walls, which resulted from the pattern of chamber formation and from minor variations of Mg/Ca within one chamber wall.